Angels News: What Shohei Ohtani Should Be Looking For in Next Chapter of His Career
Despite being named the best player in the MLB for the second straight year and being named a finalist for the AL MVP Award in 2022, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels failed to make the postseason for his fifth straight season in Anaheim. The writing is on the wall if this season ends in disappointment yet again, as the two-way superstar will likely look for a new home.
But what exactly should the 28-year-old be keeping an eye on when he chooses his next home this offseason?
1. Roster Depth
The Angels have not been the best when it comes to ensuring that Ohtani has solid pieces around him to seriously contend. Despite spending over $200 million on their roster, he is still easily their most consistent pitcher and hitter. Slugger Mike Trout is of course a superstar in his own right, but he has struggled with injuries, and we haven't seen the full potential of that duo.
Therefore, Ohtani should be looking for a franchise that will supply him with talent so he doesn't have to carry such a heavy load. The San Diego Padres have been linked to Ohtani's name for this very reason, as they have been loading up their roster with elite players all around. They boast one of the best four-man hitting rotations with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, and Xander Bogaerts. Their pitching lineup is also very strong and headlined by Ohtani's WBC teammate, Yu Darvish.
2. Money... lots of money
With Manny Machado having agreed to an extension with the San Diego Padres, that means that many teams lost out on their plan b for this upcoming free agency. Obviously, every contender wants to land Ohtani, but Machado wouldn't have been a bad substitute. However, now expect front offices to throw everything they have at the two-way superstar.
Current projections show that Ohtani could be looking at deals that offer anywhere between $400 million all the way past $600 million. He will be skyrocketing any team's payroll that he joins, and it is well-deserved. For this reason, both the New York Mets and Yankees have reportedly been preparing to make a run at him. They have money to spend this offseason and would be willing to break the bank to bring him in.
3. Personal Brand Growth
Ohtani is already one of the biggest names in baseball but, depending on where his next stop is, he can potentially become one of the biggest names in all of sports. He represents his home country of Japan every time he sets foot on the field and has grown in popularity during his tenure with the Angels thus far. However, there are definitely teams that would grow his personal brand even more.
Currently playing in Los Angeles, Ohtani suits up for one of the biggest cities, but his team remains in the shadow of the Dodgers. We have seen numerous players over the years join the Boys In Blue and immediately become bigger celebrities such as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Trea Turner. The Dodgers would give him a bigger spotlight to shine in with their marketing, viewership, and attendance rate at their iconic stadium.
Ohtani's free agency will be record-breaking no matter what. His teammates have made it clear that they hope he stays, but if the squad endures another losing season, expect a trade or free agency departure in the very near future.
